Can opener



May 22, 1928. 1,671,014

4c. D. cUMMlNGs GAN OPENER Filed March 14, 1927 wwf/40% Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES D. CUMMINGS, 0F TULLY, NEW YORK Application tiled March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,210.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in can` opening devices.

It is usual with can openers of the hand operated type to use the point of the blade for iiist forming a perforation in the top of the can to permit the insertion of the blade, but it is found in using the point oi' the blade for this purpose that the opening is ordinarily formed some distance within the rim ot' the can so as to leave a projecting edge portion when the main body of the top of the can is cut out which interrupts the free flow of material 'from the can and forms a dangerous cutting edge, and the main object of this invention is to provide a special means for forming the original or starting openin at a point very close to the outer wall of tie can so that practically no surrounding edge remains when the top of the can is cut out.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the can opening device of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 looking up.

The structure. as here disclosed comprises a handle -1- which carries a thin metallic member -2- terminating in a tapered blade -3-, the edge 'f1- of which is sharpened. The blade portion 3 is odset from the body portion some distance, as best shown in Figure 2, and is connected to the body portion by an integral radially extending somewhat inclined connecting strip -6-.

In order to provide means the initial holein the top of the can at a point closely adjacent the 'side wall, the connecting strip t3- is cut away at -7- so as to form a prong 8- which is vpreferably inclined slightly upwardly at its end so as to extend under the rim -9- of a can illustrated in dotted lines, Figure 1. The base or rear end of the blade -3l is formed with a vertically projecting tooth 10- which extends downwardly beyondl the prong -8- and is odset from the prong -8- due to the fact that the blade -3- is odset from the body -2-. y

As a result of this odset relationof the for producing y prong or hook -8- and the perforating tooth -10- when the prong --8--y is hooked underneath the rim -9- the entire can opening structure can be tilted slightly f' to bring the tooth -10- against the inneil surface of the side wall of the can, and by tilting the handle upwardly a perforation is readily formed in the can top at a point closely adjacent the side wall of the can. The handle --1- may then be tilted still further upwardly which will cause. the edge -4- of the blade 3- to cut through the can top. i The handle 1- may thereupon be brought down to the horizontal yposition and the hook -8- moved along the rim `--9- of the can in the direction of the just made cut which will place blade -3- in a position where the raising of handle -1-- will cause the edge Ltto extend the cut along the top of the can. This operation may be repeated until the cut extends around the top of the can as far as may be desired.

Altho I have shown and described a specific form and relation of parts as constituting an embodiment of this invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact details of form or arrangement of the parts, as various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A can opening device comprising abody portion and a blade odset from the body portion and connected to the body portion by a laterally extending integral ystrip being cut away to-orm a prong, and

a tooth extending vertically from the blade adjacent to but odset :trom the hook portion.`

'2. A can opening device comprising a body portion and a blade odset' from the body portion and connected to the body portion by a laterally extending integraI strip, said body portion being provided with a prong and a tooth extending vertically from the blade adjacent the prong and odset therefrom.

In witness whereof I have. hereunto set my hand this 9th day of March 1927.

CHARLES D. CUMMINGS. 

